Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17

So time flew by on his noiseless
wings, leaving. in place of the girl S
bright looks, the woman's sweet, pa
tient face. Only to Jasper it never
changed-never q line altered. To
the people of the town Dorothy was
grown an old maid, with Il pleasant
face and helpful hands, that made 9TH
ers wish for her in time of trouble or
distress.
Not long before Jasper had heard OF
work at distance, SO had gone. toll
ing on day after day. tasking himself
beyond his strength, until one morn
ing he could not rise from the bed; ard
when the doctor came he looked Sc
rious. and inquired if there were no
friends who could come and nurse
him. Friends? One by one. as he
thought them over, he realized that
they had stepped out of life to make
homes and new ties of their own. 1t
had been hard to stand by as success
seemed to come so easily to Others.
No. There were no friends-only Dor
othy out of all the world was left. So
the doctor telegraphed her to come
quickly, not waiting to write, for his
patient was dying. There was no con.
stitution-no strength left to bear the
strain of the fever.
Such shock as it had been to Doro-
thy; and even when she stepped from
the train. late in the afternoon. the
sweet face looked white and frightened,
and her hands shook little as she
touched the doctors sleeve, to ask that
question her quivering lips had lost
their power to form.
Three. four days had gone by since
then and he was alive still-only alive
though, for there was no power left in
the wasted arms to fold themselves
about the faithful heart which never
for moment in all these years had
wavered in its allegiance.
After all, death had been kinder than
life, seeing how it had given that which
in health had been denied. Poor soul,
it was hard to die now-to 60 away
from the wife's warm, loving touch,
and, feeling the icy hand of death grasp
his, 90 out with him into the dark
ness.
Jasper's yearning shines forth from
the weary, feverish eyes. and Dorothy's
heart is slowly breaking, as, gazing
down, she realizes how powerless now
is human skill.
Tenderly. carefully, she lifts her hus-
bands head until it lies upon her
bosom, within the circle of her arms;
then, with her cheek to his, she softly
speaks, her low, sweet voice thrilling
and vibrating with the might of that
love which holds them both, until the
great unrest passes away and peace
comes.
The window is wide open, and as the
fluttering white curtains. stirred by the
breeze. sway back and forth, they seem
like white-winged angels beckoning on
to The sunset glories of the clouds. The
west is one gorgeous flame of gold, a
great shining pathway into the sky.
Outside the window suddenly there
comes sound. burst of music, as
some straying bird lights on the tree
tops and sways the tiny branch with
his song.
Dorothy, love, it is our wedding
march. Hark how the music rolls and
Swells!"
Closer comes the soft. loving cheek,
and he rests more heavily against her
heart. The waning sun goes stridinS
down the west, the breeze still stirs
the curtains and the wedding march
rings on. Twilight is coming fast as
day journeys down the distant hills.
What matter-did not the white-robed
angels beckon?
Look! See how ''Love is strong as
death"-nay. it is stronger. From the
faces, worn and wrinkled, age has
passed away and youth stays on-for-
ever now. For, hand in hand close
clasped, Jasper and Dorothy have gone
down the shining pathway of the sun.
into the far-off west, beyond the hills,
upon their wedding journey; until TIE
flaming gates roll back and they stand
within the walls of The City.-Kate E.
Thomas, in Demorest's Magazine.